Nitro man says he was shot during attempted robbery

A man who took himself to a local hospital with a gunshot wound said he was injured while three men attempted to rob him near Institute.

Kanawha County deputies responded to Thomas Memorial Hospital about noon Thursday, after learning Stephen Humphries, 21, of Nitro, had driven himself there after being shot.

Humphries told the deputies he went to the West Dunbar/Institute area to look for his sister. He was walking on Curtis Lane when three suspects approached him and demanded his wallet, said Capt. Sean Crosier in a news release. When he refused to hand it over, one of the men pulled out a handgun and fired it two to three times, striking Humphries in the leg once, he told deputies.

The victim got back in his car and fled, without having turned his wallet over to the suspects, who are described as three black men.

Humphries told deputies that the man who had the gun and shot him was about 25 years old, 5-foot-11, medium build with medium-length hair. He was wearing a grey long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.

The other two are also about 25 years old and 5-foot-11, according to the news release. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office at 304-357-0169 and speak with Cpl. C.E. O'Neal. Callers can remain anonymous.